Serious question, has anyone else fallen for the ultralight gear hype? I wasted $200 on a titanium pot set that I barely use.

Last spring I got suckered into buying a $200 titanium pot set from a guy at a trailhead outside of Bozeman. He swore it would shave half a pound off my base weight. I took it on a 4 day loop in the Absarokas and the thing just doesn't conduct heat right. My dinner took twice as long to boil and I burnt my oatmeal twice. Then I went back to my old aluminum mess kit that cost 40 bucks and works fine. Anyone else ditch expensive ultralight stuff for cheap gear that actually works better?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige_bell818d ago

Oh I feel this so hard. That line about "hype and price tags don't mean much" from @casey342 really hit me. I dropped like 80 bucks on a titanium spork once because everyone online said it was the end all be all and it snapped in half the first time I tried to scoop out some cold baked beans. Meanwhile the cheap plastic spork I grabbed from a fast food place has lasted me three seasons now. It's like we all get blinded by the fancy materials and forget that gear just needs to work when you're tired and hungry.

the_drew8d agoTop Commenter

I'd say take it easy on yourself. $200 for a titanium pot set that barely works is a pretty standard lesson in the outdoor gear world, not the end of the world. Your old aluminum kit sounds like it's got way more soul anyway.

casey3428d ago

I did the exact same thing with a $150 titanium spoon years ago. It was supposed to be this ultralight miracle and it bent on my third camping trip while I was trying to stir some chili. My buddy's old stainless steel spoon from a thrift store still works perfect. I learned that hype and price tags don't mean much when you're actually out there. Now I just bring a cheap titanium mug that I found on clearance for $10 and my beat up aluminum pot. Works way better than that overpriced stuff honestly lol.